A man returns to his hometown after escaping domestic abuse as a boy, but when mysterious attacks threaten the new life he’s been building, he fears his past is back for vengeance.

Zane Bigelow grew up in a gorgeous lakeside home—the son of a surgeon and a socialite. Along with his little sister, they were the perfect family… or so it seemed to Lakeview’s residents. Behind closed doors, however, fear and violence made their home a prison. One horrible night, it all comes to a head and Zane flees to begin a new life.

Nearly twenty years later, Zane returns to be with those he loves the most and establish his law practice.

At around the same time, a spirited landscaper moves to Lakeview to escape her own past. Darby McCray quickly becomes the town’s sweetheart, transforming and charming her way into people’s hearts.

Zane and Darby hit it off almost immediately, but their relationship gradually takes shape as they get to know each other. Soon however, a series of mysterious attacks threaten their future, and together they must face the ghosts of their pasts, to save each other and those they love the most.

Nora Roberts’ magic shines once more in this gripping, standalone novel. Romance and suspense thread together seamlessly in a story brimming with emotion, family and friendship. As with all of Roberts’ stories, you can’t help but fall for the characters she brings to life. They feel as real as real can get, making you experience what they go through viscerally. While the story is at times dark, unflinchingly portraying the horror of domestic abuse, it also shows tremendous courage, and a tenacious hope to survive and find happiness.

Part suspense, part romance, UNDER CURRENTS is another must-read, especially for us devoted Nora fans.

HJ Recommends!

In Under Currents by Nora Roberts, Zane Bigelow’s home life while growing up in the swanky part of his North Carolina hometown was nothing like it seemed on the surface. The fancy house, the expensive cars, the perfect doctor with his perfect children and housewife–it was all a lie. Because inside the house overlooking the picturesque lake was nothing but abuse that had Zane and his younger sister Britt fearing for their lives. It’s when he stands up against his father that Zane’s life, and that of his sister as well, changes completely. They learn who they can trust and eventually begin the arduous process of healing from their horrific childhood.

More than a decade later, Zane, now a successful lawyer, makes the decision to move back to his hometown. While he hasn’t missed the bad memories it brings up, he misses his aunt Emily and the camaraderie that living in a small town means to him. Darby McCray is new to the area and trying to build a name for herself as a landscaper so she can settle down in Lakeside and grow her business. With a few things in her past she’d like to forget as well, she hits it off rather well with Zane. Their relationship morphs from friendship with a side of flirtation to an all out romance rather quickly as they find themselves battling their demons, side by side. And with such a promising future ahead of them, they’ll do whatever it takes to win.

You know when you pick up a Nora Roberts book that it will be solid. Period. But there are some of her characters, their situations, or the storyline itself that will truly resonate with me when I read it. Under Currents was such a novel. Roberts’ storytelling here was on point and filled with such real issues, some admittedly disturbing, and honest, raw emotions that everything rang true. It might have been a bit lengthy, but I think the pacing was perfect and carried the story forward in a natural way.

I liked that Roberts started things off in the past where we got to see our main hero (there was more than one hero in my opinion) in his teens, unfortunately living in his abusive home. I think it gave a clear picture of what Zane endured, what built his character, who became central to his future, and why moving back to his hometown over a decade later as an adult was such a huge step for him. And I definitely loved the man Zane became. He was thoughtful, loyal, had a nice sense of humor, and fought to do the right thing. Even when it wasn’t easy.

Our main heroine (I thought there was more than one heroine as well) Darby was pretty kickass. She’d been through her own troubles in the past and had come out the other side full of optimism and a can-do attitude. She had hidden depths that surprised me in a good way. And I loved that Darby didn’t pull any punches–she laid it all out there and let people know where they stood with her and how she would and wouldn’t be treated. Which floored Zane, his aunt and his uncle to no end. (And me!) Darby and Zane’s romance was tender, passionate, and just felt right, even as it moved along at a pretty good clip.

At times dark and chilling with a twisting, suspenseful plotline, other times hopeful and filled with warmth, Under Currents captured my heart with its realistic characters and their long but triumphant journey.